“For a limited time, we will waive the current lab retake policy so that all lab candidates will be able to retest for their lab exam with only a 30-day wait period. We’re offering this opportunity in response to your feedback about the challenges faced with longer wait times and difficulty getting a lab seat for retesting. We hear you and we understand your concerns, so we would like to take time to look at the data and evaluate our lab retake policy.”

Q: Does this mean that between now and December 31, I can take the lab every 30 days?

A: Yes.

Q: Is the original policy back in place after December 31?

A: What happens after December 31 is dependent on the results of our research from now until that date.

Q: What does this mean if my current wait period is 90 days and I’m in the middle of the waiting period? Can I sign up now or do I have to continue to wait?

A: Yes, you can sign up now. You do not have to wait. The policy that is active at the time you schedule your lab will determine the time you have to wait. If you are beyond the 30-day wait period, you can book the earliest available seat you find.

Q: What if I’m already scheduled for a lab that I had to schedule out 90 days because of the original policy?

A: You will have the option to reschedule your lab attempt to an earlier date through the system.

I hope this will certainly create a huge demand for the seats as we can expect more and more unsuccessful candidates try to reappear for the lab after the 30 days gap.

Personally I feel the old approach was better and it gives ample time for unsuccessful candidates to prepare well and give their best try in the next attempt.

]]>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/ccie-rescheduling-policy-is-changed/feed/0CCNA Cloud and CCNP Cloud is here – Series 2http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/ccna-cloud-and-ccnp-cloud-is-here-series-2/
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/ccna-cloud-and-ccnp-cloud-is-here-series-2/#commentsThu, 28 May 2015 18:55:09 +0000http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/?p=1678The next major addition of Cisco Certifications towards Cloud is CCNP Cloud. Like all Cisco Professional Certifications the prerequisite for CCNP Cloud is an associate certification, in this case its CCNA Cloud or even any CCIE Certification can do.

In order for some one to be a CCNP Cloud Certified one needs to pass fours exams mentioned below

Building the Cisco Cloud with Application Centric Infrastructure (CLDDACI)

By August 2015, Cisco will unveil more details about CCNP Cloud, currently the syllabus for CCNP cloud is not available. But its for sure, that like other Cisco Professional exams , the CCNP Cloud is a lab based training and certification program that is targeted at Cloud engineers, Cloud Administrators, Cloud Designers, and Architects working in Data Centers.

Its worth to wait and watch how Cisco Cloud certifications are accepted by the community, especially when Cisco is projecting a huge success of Internet of Things (IoT) and the cloud elements

]]>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/ccna-cloud-and-ccnp-cloud-is-here-series-2/feed/0CCNA Cloud and CCNP Cloud Certifications are here – Series 1http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/ccna-cloud-and-ccnp-cloud-certifications-are-here-series-1/
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/ccna-cloud-and-ccnp-cloud-certifications-are-here-series-1/#commentsThu, 28 May 2015 05:02:26 +0000http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/?p=1676Cisco announced the release of new Associate and Professional level of Certifications targeting Cloud. Seems like Cisco wants Networking professional to be aware of SDN, ACI, Virtual Application Containers and SAN. These certifications are known as CCNA Cloud and CCNP Cloud.

In order to be a CCNA Cloud one needs to pass 210-451 CLDFND and 210-455 CLDADM exams, these exams tests you on Cisco Cloud solutions. One needs to be aware of DC fundamentals; basics of UC, UF, Storage, Virtualization, and Network Services; Hypervisors, Windows Server and Linux OS; remote connectivity / VPN solutions; documentation of design, system builds, configurations, and support procedures.

The CCNA Cloud, 210-451 CLDFND exam is yet another standard Cisco exam, which last for 90-minute with approximately 55-65 questions.

covers the following topics

1.0 Cloud Characteristics and Models

14%

2.0 Cloud Deployment

16%

3.0 Basic Knowledge of Cloud Compute

24%

4.0 Basic Knowledge of Cloud Networking

22%

5.0 Basic Knowledge of Cloud Storage

24%

More details awaited for 210-455 CLDADM exams, which are expected to by announced in June 2015.

This is a great step by Cisco and the new development certainly gives us clue one day there might be CCIE Cloud.

]]>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/ccna-cloud-and-ccnp-cloud-certifications-are-here-series-1/feed/0Being CCIE is an ultimate thing in life?http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/being-ccie-is-an-ultimate-thing-in-life/
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/being-ccie-is-an-ultimate-thing-in-life/#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 05:09:13 +0000http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/?p=1576Recently I received a message in LinkedIn, asking about CCIE, the question put forward to me was as follows

‪”I’m just curious about network technologies. There is a lot of hype about CCIE; it is said once you pass CCIE lab there are plethora of opportunities waiting for you. Some even speculate starting salary of 25k SAR in KSA. Is CCIE a global certification which is accepted worldwide even in North America?

‪Do you agree with aforementioned assertions? Please share some insights.”

Many of the Networking or non-networking professionals have certain beliefs related to CCIE, some of them are

CCIE is an ultimate certificate.

Once one passed the CCIE lab, he conquered the world.

Companies around the World will approach to him with amazing 3 digit offers.

A new horizon will open for him; he will be welcomed everywhere

Well all these things are wrong beliefs. Certainly it does adds value to one’s career, but at the same time he /she should justify the CCIE certificate he/she posses.

Recently trends are changing even college graduates with no networking experience started to prepare for CCIE labs and they are successful in passing the lab. Does this justify that; they have the same caliber of the experienced Network Engineer, certainly not. At one end this is a good sign, this shows how CCIE is valued in the professional world. But at the same time CCIE is losing its value due to huge increase in the number of CCIE s.

I believe experience and knowledge is what matters, not the certifications. Many people have a wrong perception towards CCIE; they think by passing the CCIE lab they can conquer the world. Well this is obsoletely wrong.

Wisdom and experience cannot be replaced by certifications, certifications does add value to those, who already posses good experience in the field. Yes CCIE is one of most prestigious certification and accepted world wide, yes CCIE does offer a good remuneration provided that you are experienced and can justify your CCIE.

]]>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/being-ccie-is-an-ultimate-thing-in-life/feed/1Does CCIE track selection needs counseling?http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/does-ccie-track-selection-needs-counseling/
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/does-ccie-track-selection-needs-counseling/#commentsTue, 10 Mar 2015 18:30:58 +0000http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/?p=1553When it comes to choosing a CCIE track most of the CCIE aspirers are confused, everyday I encounter at least one CCIE aspirers approaching me for an advice. Some times I petty them but there are in need of guidance, so I morally try to support them and guide them to best of my ability.

Why are most of them are confused in choosing CCIE tracks?

Its been observed that most of them are confused at the step 1 of CCIE, they struggle to choose a CCIE track for them, some of them try to meet instructor after instructor of different tracks to select the CCIE track, this makes them more confused. Even I have seem some people start with a CCIE track A for few months and then again they change their track to track B, this is not a good sign for some one who already started the journey of CCIE.

I believe most of them want to choose a CCIE track for different reasons like

Which CCIE track is in more demand?

Which CCIE track is easy to pass?

Which CCIE track offers me more remuneration?

Which CCIE track is easy to simulate?

Which CCIE track costs less?

So and so forth, well these are not the valid reasons to select a CCIE track. I strongly believe there should be strong desire and passion towards a particular track, which comes out when you ask the series of questions which mentioned in the article “ The Journey of CCIE – Series 1”. Yet some people may need some sort of Pre CCIE counseling in selecting a CCIE track and planning their journey.

Well as per my knowledge no one is offering such service, if some one wants to seek any guidance they can reach me out I can assist them in choosing their passions. Yes CCIE is a passion and can be only achieved when some one gives more than 100%. Please do feel free to reach me out, I will more than glad to help you.

]]>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/does-ccie-track-selection-needs-counseling/feed/1The Journey of CCIE – Schedule the Lab – Series 10http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-schedule-the-lab-series-10/
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-schedule-the-lab-series-10/#commentsWed, 25 Feb 2015 04:43:29 +0000http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/?p=1537Sometimes we tend to get out of focus and don’t take our preparations seriously, it happened with me many times. We were at our peak, but suddenly for obvious reasons we lost the interest. This situation is really hard to overcome and many people give up at this stage which is so sad.

The best way to overcome this phobia is to schedule the lab and pay for it. This huge step makes life easier in terms of preparations. Your life now evolves most of the times about the lab and the preparations for the lab. You live each and every day not only thinking about the lab but also finding the ways to overcome the challenges you face. So that you are ready to take the challenge in more optimistic way.

So whenever you feel you are getting out of focus and cannot concentrate, then take a break, monitor your progress, estimate the time you need to get ready for lab, and then schedule the lab and pay for it.

By doing so you are empowering your brain to focus more on the lab rather than the distractions. So schedule you lab and enjoy the journey.

]]>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-schedule-the-lab-series-10/feed/0The Journey of CCIE – Challenge yourself – Series 8http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-challenge-yourself-series-8/
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-challenge-yourself-series-8/#commentsMon, 23 Feb 2015 04:41:56 +0000http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/?p=1527Excuses are mother of failure; it’s a normal human tendency to find excuses to delay many things in their life, be it spending time with their family or even preparations for certifications. We always find a way to run away from this.

The best thing is to overcome this drawback is to “challenge yourself”. Once you challenge yourself, your self-doubt / your excuses will vanish and your brain finds a way to accomplish the challenge both sub consciously and consciously.

The biggest challenge all married persons face is the time, better make your better half part of this project. So he/she can support you in the best possible way. You can never run away from responsibilities as employee/father/ husband or wife. You have to fulfill them and an ideal situation will never arrive, so better challenge yourself.

Many great leaders / CIO, s /CTO,s are much busier then us, yet they achieve more , may be it’s a good idea to read a biography of a great achiever, this may give you an insight and motivation to take up the challenge.

Once I challenged myself I found myself not wasting time on unwanted things, even while driving either to office or home I used to listen either to INE’s Advance Technology Class videos or listening to an interesting Cisco Live video related to CCIE.

So buckle up and challenge yourself.

]]>http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-challenge-yourself-series-8/feed/1The Journey of CCIE – Find a Study Partner – Series 7http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-find-a-study-partner-series-7/
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/the-journey-of-ccie-find-a-study-partner-series-7/#commentsSun, 22 Feb 2015 05:03:56 +0000http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/network-technologies/?p=1524When it comes human brain it wonders a lot and its hard to focus for a long time, this condition is true especially when you are preparing alone for CCIE. To over come this challenge it’s always better to have a good study partner. There are many benefits of having study partner. My self and my study partner spent countless hours in coffee shops, study room and on phone discussing our progress,practicing Narbik/INE workbooks, helping each other in understanding the concepts and much more.

We were quite adamant and focused on what we need. We were monitoring each other’s progress and pointing out the strong areas and the weak areas. We worked hard and helped each other to overcome the weak areas. There are many benefits of having a study partner some of them are as